Funding shortages threaten domestic violence prevention programmes – research reveals

Domestic violence experts emphasise the importance of addressing perpetrators’ behaviour to protect women and children from abuse. However, charities running prevention programmes in the UK are facing funding cuts, jeopardising the support they provide to survivors.

In West Yorkshire, men gather weekly at the Yorkshire Children’s Centre (YCC) to confront their history of abusing their partners. These two-hour sessions aim to help them understand their actions and take responsibility for their behaviour. While some attendees have criminal convictions for violent acts, others have engaged in long-term emotional manipulation and control. Their common goal is change.

YCC has been running this domestic violence prevention programme since 2012, seeing it as vital in breaking the cycle of abuse affecting millions in the UK. However, funding cuts have forced YCC to scale back its work and deny assistance to men willing to change.

Jonathan Fell, the charity’s domestic abuse service manager, expressed his frustration, calling it “dangerous” to turn away men seeking help. Those accepted into the programme attend up to 20 sessions, focusing on self-awareness, conflict resolution, and improved communication. The programme also offers three months of post-session support and helps family members at risk.

The Domestic Abuse Commissioner for England and Wales has highlighted the scarcity of such programs. A 2022 report revealed “deeply concerning” gaps in support, with only 7% of survivors able to access help for their abusers. One man who completed YCC’s course described it as “intense” and “hard-hitting,” emphasising the desire for positive change in their relationships. He added:

“I think they have to be. You have to pull it back and make it raw to understand the impact you have on another individual. It’s taught me a lot about how I behaved and why, in terms of the beliefs I may have formed as I was growing up.

I think it’s given me the tools to manage my behaviour and know what’s right. This is your relationship, this is your partner, this is someone you love. You want change for the better, and for them.”

Despite receiving 316 referrals since April 2021, YCC’s funding situation remains dire. Last year, they received support from the Home Office and Kirklees Council, which ended this year. Their bid for government funding was rejected, forcing them to use reserves to sustain the programme until April 2024. Without further funding, they may have to cease offering sessions next year.

Funding cuts are affecting other charities working with perpetrators across the UK. Foundation, running a domestic abuse prevention programme in North Yorkshire, anticipates significant reductions in their work next year, potentially resulting in more domestic abuse incidents. Local authority budget constraints are making it challenging for these organisations to continue their critical work.

An estimated 2.4 million adults, predominantly women, experienced domestic abuse in the year leading up to March 2022, according to the Office for National Statistics. Respect, a charity overseeing work with domestic abuse perpetrators, reported a 41% increase in calls and emails to its national helpline in 2022-23.

Nicole Jacobs, the Domestic Abuse Commissioner, expressed particular concern about the lack of support for men voluntarily seeking help without criminal convictions. She called for increased funding to address the “huge gaps” in provision across England and Wales. She told the BBC:

“By far, there are not enough of these programmes.

If someone is convicted of a crime, maybe they’ll be offered through probation or sentence a perpetrator programme, but it’s the community-based services or provision I’m most concerned about because that is the most patchy in England and Wales.”

A council spokesperson said:

“As the funding has now come to an end, we are unable to continue providing financial support.

We are working closely with local community groups and organisations to make them aware of any future funding opportunities, how we can collaborate on opportunities, and the relevant procurement process to apply for them.”